Causes of World War One

Although it was the assassination of the Austrian archduke, Franz Ferdinand that led to the outbreak of World War I in
August 1914, the actual causes of the war were more complicated and not confined to a single cause.

Alliances
An alliance is an agreement made between two or more countries to give each other help if it is needed. When an
alliance is signed, those countries become known as Allies. A number of alliances had been signed by countries
between the years 1879 and 1914. These were important because they meant that some countries had no option but
to declare war if one of their allies declared war first.

Imperialism
Imperialism is when a country takes over new lands or countries and
makes them subject to their rule. By 1900 the British Empire extended over
five continents and France had control of large areas of Africa. The amount
of lands 'owned' by Britain and France increased the rivalry with Germany
who had entered the scramble to acquire colonies late and only had small
areas of Africa.
Pink =
British Blue = French
Red = German

Militarism
Militarism means that the army and military forces are given a high profile by
the government. The growing European divide had led to an arms race
between the main countries. The armies of both France and Germany had
more than doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce
competition between Britain and Germany for mastery of the seas. The
British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in 1906.
The Germans soon followed suit introducing their own battleships. The
German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of action that involved attacking
France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany.
Nationalism
Nationalism means being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one's country. During this period, nationalist
feeling ran high as the countries of Europe sought to restructure themselves. The Congress of Vienna, held after the
Napoleonic wars, left both Germany and Italy as divided states. Nationalism inspired the re-unification of Italy in 1861
and Germany in 1871. For its part, France was angry because the settlement at the end of the Franco-Prussian war
had given Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. Large areas of both Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to differing
nationalist groups, all of whom wanted freedom from the states in which they lived.

Crises
The Moroccan Crisis - In 1904 Morocco had been given to France by Britain, but the Moroccans wanted independence
and was supported by Germany. War was avoided, but in 1911, the Germans were again protesting against French
possession of Morocco. Britain supported France and Germany was persuaded to back down for part of French Congo.

The Bosnian Crisis - In 1908, Austria-Hungary took over Bosnia. This angered Serbians who felt the province should be
theirs. Serbia threatened Austria-Hungary with war, Russia, allied to Serbia, mobilized its forces. Germany, allied to
Austria-Hungary mobilized its forces and prepared to threaten Russia. War was avoided when Russia backed down. In
1911 and 1912 there was war in the Balkans when the Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area. The states then
fought each other over which area should belong to which state. Austria-Hungary intervened and forced Serbia to give
up land. Tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was high.

Alliances
An alliance is an agreement made between two or more countries to give each other
help if it is needed. When an alliance is signed, those countries become known as
Allies.
A number of alliances had been signed by countries between the years 1879 and
1914. These were important because they meant that some countries had no option
but to declare war if one of their allies declared war first.
Read the table below clockwise from the top left picture.
1879
The Dual Alliance

Germany and Austria-
Hungary made an alliance
to protect themselves from
Russia
1881
Austro-Serbian Alliance

Austria-Hungary made an alliance
with Serbia to stop Russia gaining
control of Serbia
1882
The Triple Alliance

Germany and Austria- Hungary
made an alliance with Italy to stop
Italy from taking sides with Russia
1914
Triple Entente (no
separate peace)

Britain, Russia and France
agreed not to sign for
peace separately.

1894
Franco-Russian Alliance

Russia formed an alliance with
France to protect herself against
Germany and Austria-Hungary
1907
Triple Entente

This was made between
Russia, France and Britain
to counter the increasing
threat from Germany.
1907
Anglo-Russian Entente

This was an agreement between
Britain and Russia
1904
Entente Cordiale

This was an agreement, but not a
formal alliance, between France
and Britain.









Imperialism

Imperialism is when a country takes over new lands or countries and makes them
subject to its rule. By 1900 the British Empire extended over five continents and
France had control of large areas of Africa. With the rise of industrialism countries
needed new markets. The amount of lands 'owned' by Britain and France increased
the rivalry with Germany who had entered the scramble to acquire colonies late and
only had small areas of Africa. Note the contrast in the map below.

















Militarism

Militarism means that the army and military forces are given a high profile by the
government. Countries build up their armed forces in the name of security, thereby
intimidating other nations. The growing European divide had led to an arms race
between the main countries. The armies of both France and Germany had more than
doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce competition between Britain
and Germany for mastery of the seas. The British had introduced the 'Dreadnought',
an effective battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed suit introducing their own
battleships. The German, Von Schlieffen, also drew up a plan of action that involved
attacking France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany. The map
below shows how the plan was to work.
















Nationalism
Nationalism means being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one's
country. The Congress of Vienna, held after Napoleon's exile to Elba, aimed to sort out
problems in Europe. Delegates from Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia (the winning
allies) decided upon a new Europe that left both Germany and Italy as divided states.
Strong nationalist elements led to the re-unification of Italy in 1861 and Germany in
1871. The settlement at the end of the Franco-Prussian war left France angry at the
loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany and keen to regain lost territory. Large areas of
both Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to differing nationalist groups, all of
whom wanted freedom from the states in which they lived.